Gannon out for the year but doesn't say if he will retire

NFL Roundup

ALAMEDA, Calif. - Rich Gannon will not return to the field for the Oakland Raiders this season because of a broken vertebra in his neck.

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The quarterback, who turns 39 in December, saw four of the country's top neck and spine specialists over the past couple of weeks and was told he shouldn't try to play again this year. But Gannon didn't rule out a return next season and wasn't ready to say he's going to retire.

"After visiting with these professionals and these experts, it's been brought to my attention that it's the general consensus that a return to action this season is unrealistic," Gannon said Monday, speaking publicly for the first time since getting hurt in a helmet-to-helmet hit Sept. 26. "As far as my future, I'm just not really in a position to speculate beyond the 2004 season."

Gannon will still make his $4.5 million base salary this season because he's a vested veteran. He restructured his $7 million contract last month by converting $2.5 million into unlikely-to-be-earned incentives for salary-cap purposes.

Gannon, the 2002 NFL MVP, was knocked out of the game in the first quarter of the Raiders' 30-20 win over Tampa Bay last month after being hit by linebacker Derrick Brooks. The Raiders originally said Gannon would be out at least eight weeks. Kerry Collins is playing in his place.

"It's extremely disappointing," said Gannon, wearing a hard neck brace he'll need for about six weeks.

Hamstring may keep Moss on the sideline

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - Randy Moss could miss a game for the first time in his NFL career, but the Minnesota Vikings won't decide before Friday whether he'll be forced out by a strained right hamstring.

Coach Mike Tice described the injury as more than mild, but Moss could be able to play a limited role in next weekend's home game against the Tennessee Titans.

"He's a freak," Tice said, "and he heals really quick."

Moss, who has played in 101 consecutive regular-season games, leads the league with eight touchdown catches. The All-Pro receiver was hurt in the second quarter of Sunday night's game in New Orleans when he tripped and fell after getting tangled up with Saints safety Jay Bellamy on a pass that was intercepted in the end zone.

Moss played on the Vikings' next possession, but he wasn't thrown to and headed to the locker room after that drive. He cheered Minnesota's 38-31 victory from the sideline, wearing a gray track suit.

Delhomme takes blame for Carolina's woes

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - When the finger-pointing begins in Carolina, quarterback Jake Delhomme wants it to be in his direction.

Delhomme is shouldering the blame for the Panthers' 1-4 start, particularly after throwing four interceptions in Sunday's 30-8 loss to Philadelphia.

"We're not getting it done, especially offensively, and it has to fall on the quarterback," he said. "I just felt extremely good about what we were going to do out here, but it's just not happening.

"We're not carrying it over. I'm one that's not carrying it over. It's hard for me to look around and see who else might not be, when certainly I'm not holding up close to my end of the bargain."

Delhomme currently leads the NFL with nine interceptions, and his third-down quarterback rating (31 percent) is worst in the league.

But Carolina coach John Fox refused to place the blame on his quarterback Monday.

"Each individual play, people have things they have to execute," Fox said. "I couldn't begin to put it all on him. That's the kind of guy he is (to take the blame). But I know from my standpoint, I don't feel it's all him."

Part of Carolina's offensive problems start with the overhauled offensive line, where only two players from last season are back.

Retired Williams to meet with NFL

DAVIE, Fla. - Retired running back Ricky Williams is scheduled to meet Thursday with the NFL to seek permission to immediately rejoin the Miami Dolphins, despite his multiple violations of the league's substance abuse program.

William David Cornwell, an attorney representing Williams, and the NFL Players Association will also attend the meeting in California.

"We are anxious to present the case for permitting Ricky to rejoin the Miami Dolphins this year and to clarify his status under the league's substance abuse program," Cornwell said in a statement Monday.

Quinn should keep starting job for Bears

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Jonathan Quinn probably will keep his job as the Chicago Bears' starting quarterback, but rookie Craig Krenzel will get more practice this week.

Quinn struggled for a second straight start Sunday, completing 10 of 22 passes for 65 yards in a 13-10 loss to the Washington Redskins and was booed by fans at Soldier Field.

The Bears play at Tampa Bay on Sunday. Quinn begins the week as the team's No. 1 QB - but he could be unseated if Krenzel looks better.

"Right now Jonathan is our starter. We'll go through the week and at the end of the week see where we are," coach Lovie Smith said Monday. "We'll decide a little later on who is going to do what."

Woodson still not ready for Cowboys

IRVING, Texas - Dallas Cowboys safety Darren Woodson isn't ready to return to practice even though he is eligible to come off the physically unable to perform list.

"I have to walk right first, and I'm still walking with a limp," Woodson said Monday.

Woodson, the team's career leading tackler and only holdover from the three Super Bowl championship teams of the 1990s, had a herniated disk surgically removed from his back in late July just before training camp started for his 13th season.

Rossley back calling plays for Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Green Bay Packers snapped a four-game losing streak with coach Mike Sherman calling the offensive plays, but the job is going back to Tom Rossley, who has recovered from heart surgery.

"I have complete confidence in him," Sherman said. "He's had a ton of great games. I'll continue to have input. I don't see a major change. I have always been active in the offense."

The Packers' 38-10 victory Sunday over Detroit was due to the players "executing our scheme more than anything else, I'll promise you," Sherman said.

Rossley had an emergency angioplasty to clear a blocked artery last week and missed a win that ended the team's longest losing skid since 1991.

Rossley, 58, was back on the job Monday and said he felt pretty good but still a little weak.

Brown OK after injury to shoulder

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee running back Chris Brown should be all right following a shoulder injury that knocked him out of the Titans' loss to Houston, while Steve McNair's chest is sore once again.

Coach Jeff Fisher said Brown appeared to be OK Monday even though he was still sore. Fisher said Brown regained feeling in his right arm.

McNair, who spent two nights in the hospital with a bruised sternum last month, had soreness in his chest lower than his previous injury. He was hurt when sacked by Houston linebacker Jamie Sharper with end Corey Sears landing on his back. Fisher said he doesn't expect the injury to be a problem.